REVIEW: ORBIS' Oil Cut Care-na Hot Cool Gel

The nightmare with our pores begins the moment we hit puberty and then, carries on to plague us for the rest of our lives in various ways. They are annoying, we hate them and we want them gone.

Unfortunately for us, just like bad memories, pores are here to stay. There is really no magic which we can use to annihilate them, but we can try and keep them clean as much as possible, so that the nightmare they bring comes in bite-sized proportions.

Here are some of the pore troubles we may encounter as we age:

Age	Pore Concerns	Characteristics
20s	Sebum Pores	Active sebum secretion. When in excess, sebum may clog pores and result in the formation of pimples and dry skin.
30s	Mixed Pores	Active sebum secretion and pores begin to sag.
40s	Sagging Pores	Skin's foundation weakens and women see a change in firmness and elasticity of skin. Coupled with gravity's downward pulling force, round pores form a teardrop shape over time.

ORBIS' Oil Cut Care-Na Hot Cool Gel is one product that can help keep our pores clean. This gel contains charcoal powder and 'plays with temperature' for some serious deep cleansing in just 4 steps:

1. Warming up of skin to soften it.
   Upon application of the gel, you skin gradually warms up. The effect is very much like placing a warm towel across your face. Your skin softens and the optimum environment for deep pore cleansing is created.
2. Deep pore cleansing with Scrub x Charcoal.
   The fine beads act like a scrub, cleansing clogged pores and removing dead skin cells. The Charcoal powder, which is sebum-adhesive, absorbs excess sebum and minuscule-sized grime.
3. Cooling astringents tighten pores.
   After a while, the skin starts to cool down and this is when the gel is in its final stage. Witch Hazel contains astringent properties which refresh and tighten pores, minimizing their appearance.
4. Absorbent x Permeating moisturizing ingredients keep skin hydrated and smooth.
   After cleansing, the skin becomes very permeable. Permeative Collagen pushes and plumps skin from within and prevents pores from sagging. Absorbent Hyaluronic Acid moisturizes and rests on the skin's surface to create a rich and full texture.

The gel is free from oils, fragrances and artificial colours, and is formulated to minimize the risk of allergies.

I have been using this gel twice a week, for the past month. After cleansing, I gently massage a pearl-sized amount of the gel on my T-zone area in circular motions, for 10 to 15 seconds. When the gel is first squeezed out from the tube, the fine beads seem a tad too rough. But as I massage the gel into my skin and it warms up, the beads kind of melt away. The warming-up effect really feels like you are steaming your face, though it isn't as 'intensive'. It goes away gradually, and when I wash it off, the cooling effect is so refreshing! It's a perfect way to end the day and a perfect way to start a new one. So yes, I alternate between day and night usage. (:

After washing it off, my skin feels soft and smooth and looks clear and radiant. I don't experience any tightness. There are some days when I'm lazy and skip the moisturizer, but my cheeks don't get dry like they usually do. My blackheads are still very much present though (There is neither an increment nor a reduction.), so I think I need to give this a little more time and probably, sleep a little bit more. Heh.

ORBIS' Oil Cut Care-Na Hot Cool Gel is available at all ORBIS counters and stores, at $21.50 for 60g.

WORLD CUP 2014: CONTEST + 5 Things to Bring to a Football Match As a Fan

The Contest
Over the next 7 days, three images will be posted here on this blog. For each image, be the first to spot all of the bottles of BRAND'S® Essence of Chicken hidden and stand to win

• A pack of BRAND'S® Essence of Chicken
• $50 Takashimaya Voucher

To participate:

1. Drop me an email at lovecharlenejudith@hotmail.com and tell me the image no. and the specific columns and rows where you think the bottles are! For example:

   Image No.: 1
   Bottles are at: A2 (Where A is the column and 2 is the row.), B3 etc.

2. There will only be one winner per image.
3. The first to spot all the bottles of BRAND'S Essence of Chicken wins for that particular image.
4. If none of the participants spot all the bottles of BRAND'S Essence of Chicken, the participant who spotted the most number of bottles wins.

Good luck! :D

Image 1 (Click on the image to enlarge it.) -

One thing the World Cup always brings to the screens around the world is the adoring, and sometimes crazy, fans. I'm sure you have seen photos of fans decked out entirely in their country's colours, faces painted with the flag, arms raising the team scarf up high.

If you are a football fan, you'll want to make pilgrimage to a major football game – be it during the World Cup or even the league matches. But what should you bring with you to the stadium to make sure that you are 100% ready to cheer your team on? Here are the top 5 things every fan should have with them.

1. Lozenges
   Extremely practical and it may just save your life. Lozenges are a must have when you are screaming yourself hoarse for your team. At the stadium, the cheering never stops, so make sure you are ready for all that action!
   
2. Cheer Gear
   As the 12th Man, the least a football fan can do at a match is to dress in the team's colours. At the World Cup, fans take things up a notch and things get very, very creative (check this out: http://bzfd.it/1lihtLn). Wear your team colours and bring your cheer gear along. This includes: face paint, team scarves, hats, noise makers, and if you would like, a cute plushie of the team's mascot.
   
3. The Right Bag
   When you're heading to the games, you'll want a bag that is roomy, but won't get in the way. Plus, the stadium would be littered with spilled drinks and wrappers, so you'll want a bag that you don't mind getting at least a little dirty. There are also restrictions on bags at the World Cup so you may want to consider a sling bag over a backpack.
   
4. A Good Camera
   At the World Cup, the stadium is huge so your iPhone camera probably won't cut it if you want to get some nice photos of the players and the game. This is where your 15 megapixel camera with a 20x zoom would come in handy!
   
5. BRAND'S Sesamin with Schisandra Extract
   The party only starts after the match is over when everyone takes it to the nearest pub for some pub grub and drinks. If you're a fan, you definitely can't skip out of the after party. So make sure your body is ready by bringing along a few of this to keep your liver at its best!

The World Cup 2014 series is a collaboration between Charlene J. Lee and Brand's. Images are taken from Google.

REVIEW: Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex II

"The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes,
because that is the doorway to her heart,
the place where love resides."
- Audrey Hepburn

Our eyes apparently give away all our secrets; they are the gateway to our souls. So it is kind of ideal for me to keep them looking bright and youthful all the time. Unfortunately, the area around our eyes is one of the first places where ageing rears its ugly head. Pregnant eye bags, deep lines, darkness (No one goes for the goth look anymore.)... And as I approach a quarter of a century, I can't help but worry slightly. Also, it certainly doesn't help that there are only 24 hours a day, a billion and one things to do, and procrastination is top on my list. :\ So I have been hunting for an eye cream that isn't too rich and that actually works. And I think I may have found it. (:

Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex II launches today, July 8th. It comes in 2 versions; a gel creme and a serum. The gel creme is to be used on its own, while the serum can be layered with other serums and creams. Both tackles the signs of ageing with the exclusive ChronoluxCB™ Technology for a complete and precise night-time treatment. The formula has been tested and proven to reduce lines and wrinkles, smooth, hydrate and strengthen skin and give a younger, radiant and more translucent glow. Basically, it re-ignites the light in our eyes!

I have been using the gel creme version diligently for the past week. It comes with an applicator, with a ball tip. You can use it to apply 3 tiny dots on each cleansed eye area in the morning and at night. Applicators are pretty troublesome to me, so I use my ring finger to apply and massage the creme in gentle circular motions.

The gel creme is a little heavier than I expected, so I use it only at night. Even though it has been just a week of usage, I find that the lines around my eyes, though still there, are less deep. The eye area is well-hydrated and there is a visible brightening effect in the morning, even after I strip my face bare of all skincare products. No irritation or sensitivity was experienced. I'll be including the serum in my morning routine soon and I can't wait to see the results from this combination! (:

Both the gel creme and serum versions of Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex II are available at all Estée Lauder counters, at $94 and $100 respectively. Click here to register for a complimentary 5-day trial for the serum. (: